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Phrenic Nerve - Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease | Experts in CMT

Phrenic Nerve

The Diaphragm’s Nerve

The phrenic nerve supplies motor control to the diaphragm, the primary muscle of breathing. It arises mainly from the fourth cervical nerve, with contributions from the third and fifth, and travels down through the neck and chest to reach the diaphragm. In CMT, respiratory involvement is often the result of the phrenic nerve being affected by the disease process. When the phrenic nerve weakens, the diaphragm can weaken with it, which can cause breathing difficulty.

The Dorsal Root

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